When’s the last time anyone saw dance-hall sweethearts and heard Pete Martinez singing country tunes in a Neiman Marcus store? Uh, well, that would have been Sept. 15 when the Cherry Creek store hosted top-tier supporters of Western Fantasy. The after-hours bash was planned as a thank-you to those whose support of the Oct. 23 hoedown starring Wynonna Judd has been exemplary.

And that would be folks like Western Fantasy co-founders Jean Galloway and Sharon Magness Blake; VOA-Colorado president Dianna Kunz; the chairs of the 2010 edition, Gayle and Ed Novak; Charlie and Judy McNeil, who also emerged as high bidders ($4,000) for the party’s single live auction item, a trip to London to see the Broncos vs. 49ers matchup; banker Hassan Salem and his wife, Sheila; such corporate committee members as David Kikumoto and Chris Castilian; and steering committee members Frances Owens, Alice Foster, Carol McTavish, Faye Washington, Lark Katchur, Gail Johnson, Sharon Whiton Gelt, Lyn Schaffer, Lisa Daniel-Johnson, David Alexander, Debi Tepper, Keri Christiansen, Susan Stiff, Arlene Mohler Johnson, Edie Marks and Gayle Ray; and Jennifer Daurio, Nick Fogel, Allison Klein, Monica Owens, Dana Berry, Carrie Roseman, Heather Brecl and Quinn Washington from the Young Professionals for Western Fantasy.

Thunder, mascot of the Denver Broncos, was there for a while, too, standing patiently outside the store entrance as photographer Bill Thach snapped his picture taken with the early arrivals.

Western wear was encouraged, and Edna Chang Grant, also a member of the benefit’s steering committee, paired boots with a shimmery silver skirt and a matching shirt from Rockmount Ranchwear, whose owner, Steve Weil, was there with his wife, Wendy. Layne Fleishman, there with hubby Craig, was in black ruffles and tulle, an outfit she assembled with help from Denise Snyder, owner of the Larimer Square boutique Mariel.

The Fleishmans are chairing Colorado Neurological Institute’s fall fundraiser, a masquerade ball taking place Oct. 1, and Craig, an attorney, is keeping his fingers crossed he’ll get to the party on time. Seems he has a trial in Chicago that day and his flight home isn’t due to touch down at DIA ’til something like 5:30 p.m.

If Tangy Buchanan, a member of the VOA-Colorado board, was caught yawning at the patron party, it wasn’t because she was bored. She’d been up since 4 a.m. to Skype with her 2-year-old grandson in Scotland; it was his birthday and Tangy wanted to see him opening his presents. The youngster is living there with his parents while his dad, Tangy and Brad Buchanan’s son, Travis, completes his Ph.D. in theology at the University of St. Andrews.

Epicurean Catering, which also is providing food for the main event, had a Southwestern-themed buffet (quesadillas, guacamole, roast beef sandwiches) for the patrons to enjoy as they marveled at the stamina of the two human mannequins that resembled bronze statues in Western garb. They didn’t move a muscle for over two hours, and were certainly the center of attention.

Western Fantasy is expected to raise $1.5 million for Colorado branch of Volunteers of America. The money will help support VOA’s Meals on Wheels program, as well as other services for the poor and/or homeless women and children it serves. For ticket information, call Michael James, 720-264-3322 or visit westernfantasy.com